Garth Dutton

Cold Wind From The South – A Song

Now that you’ve read my short story “Cold Wind From The South” here are the lyrics to the song that goes with it. I did a “David Bowie” and ‘became’ the character Roland Smyth in the song and wrote of his personal love experience as if it was my own.

Cold Wind From The South
© Garth Dutton, 2006

She was quite pretty, sometimes rather quiet,
a warm bright smile and long dark hair.
There had been hard times.
She tried not to show it.
It was merely by chance that I met her.

I remember a beach and an autumn day.
A cold wind from the south kept most people away.
I sought the shelter and warmth of the town.
Tourist season was over, few people around.

I bought a drink in the hotel.
She came and sat down beside me.
There seemed no point in each being there alone.
We talked of ourselves and our circumstances,
the state of the world and the way things were going.

It seemed we both needed some kind of fresh start,
and quickly I found that she had won my heart.
Looking back, all I can say is,
“I thank the south wind for that cold autumn day.
I thank the south wind for that cold autumn day.”

Tags: david bowie, garth dutton, lyricist, Music, song

Spirit Of The Forest – A Song

This song is a collaboration with singer/songwriter Casey Finlay. One of these days I’ll put the music up online.

Spirit Of The Forest
© G. Dutton/C. Finlay 2007

Sunlight and shadow in a green forest tall.
I went into the woodlands for an afternoon stroll.
Down along a pathway into the forest deep,
all around a silence in the afternoon heat.

Dappled and dancing, oh the play of light.

The power of the silence casts its own spell.
The spirit of the forest lingers here still.

Dappled and dancing, oh the play of light.
The branches are waving, oh the play of light.

The silence is broken. It may never have been.
The sounds of clear water in a nearby stream.
And wings up in the tree tops and a soft bird call.
Sunlight and shadow in a green forest tall.

Dappled and dancing, oh the play of light.
The branches are waving, oh the play of light.
Ever, ever changing… Think I’ll stay awhile…

Tags: casey finlay, garth dutton, Lyrics, Music, song, songwriting

I’d Like To Think There Could Be Peace – A Song

This is my peace song. Every songwriter should have at least one peace song in their repertoire.

I’d Like To Think There Could Be Peace
© Garth Dutton 2005

I’d like to think there could be peace
and an end to war.
The soldiers will have all gone home
and leave their families no more.

And women and children would have rights
like those enjoyed by men.
Religious differences be put aside,
not divide the world again.

I’d like to think there could be peace
all over the world.
And countries have good governments
and resources that were shared.

And world poverty be tackled
and be quickly swept away,
so we might all look forward to
a better future day.

I’d like to think there could be peace
and an end to war.
The soldiers will have all gone home
and leave their families no more,
and leave their families no more.

Tags: garth dutton, Lyrics, Music, peace, song, songwriter, songwriting

Accompanist – A Song

The song “Accompanist” is about a sexual relationship broken down, but the both of us continued performing as a duo because of ongoing committments at music venues.

Eventually it got too much and I set out to travel to Johannesburg via Portugal. I called it quits at Dover in heavy snow, as I didn’t have adequate winter clothing for such a journey.

Even though I wrote this song a long time ago, I still perform it as this song means a lot to me.

Accompanist
© Garth Dutton, 1971.

London Town, snowflakes are falling,
and in my heart the highway’s calling,
to Johannesburg, for there’s someone there who’d want me.
from the letters she writes
I know she has a place in her heart for me,

But tonight you’ll sing, I’ll play guitar,
and it’ll still feel good, for still friends we are.
At some pub downtown, friendly atmosphere,
and your lovely voice, soft and sweet and clear.
Everyone just stops and listens.

Then I’ll take you home, but there’ll be no after
beyond the coffee cups and the talk and laughter.
You’re afraid to walk late at night from the station,
and your company is a gift and consolation,
for loneliness is London’s desolation.

But we’ll be alright when we see the morning,
picture postcard white in clear bright dawning.
Cold dark night, clear bright morning.
Cold dark night, clear bright morning.

Tags: dover, garth dutton, johannesburg, london, portugal, song, songwriter, songwriting, winter

Who Put The FUN In Fundamentalist? – A Song

Every time I’ve sung it I get a very positive response. Thank goodness there’s people out there with a sense of humour.

Who Put The FUN In Fundamentalist?
© Garth Dutton, 1994

Chorus
Who put the fun in fundamentalist?
Try as I may I can’t find any.
Is there something that I missed?
Yeah, who put the fun in fundamentalist?

Verse 1
Most of us have opinions,
but keep them to ourselves.
Fundamentalists want to convert everybody else.
They say they have the one pure faith
to get us heaven bound.
It would be much nicer
if they weren’t around.

Chorus

Verse 2
It seems that most religions
have amongst their flocks
people with narrow minds
who want to set back the clock.
They don’t like the modern world at all,
with its pleasures and its sins,
and as for paradise, only they’ll get in.

Chorus

Verse 3
Although the Cold War’s over,
nuclear weapons still abound.
It would be much safer
if they weren’t around.
I’d trust someone secular
the button not to press.
Would a religious fanatic do it?
The answer I fear is, “Yes!”

Chorus x2

Tags: fundamentalist, garth dutton, Music, song, songwriter, songwriting